Indiana

Education, From The Capitol To The Classroom

In Delaware County, Childcare Costs High And Incomes Low

    The average cost of full-time childcare per year in Indiana is about $8,800. But if you live in Delaware County, add another $2,000 to that bill.

    Tami Silverman is the CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute. It’s the organization that collects statewide data on children used in state and national reports. She says Delaware County has the second-highest childcare cost in the state, following only Hamilton County.

    A report on the state of Indiana’s children shows childcare costs in Delaware County are significantly higher than the state average. But, as IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, job wages in the area aren’t keeping pace with those costs. The average cost of full-time childcare per year in Ind

    Read more at: indianapublicradio.org

    Efforts For Lower School Age Fail In 2018 Session

      (WFIU/WTIU)

      (WFIU/WTIU)

      Legislation to lower the age at which Hoosier children must attend school failed in the General Assembly again this year, but the conversation isn’t likely to end any time soon.

      Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick included lowering the compulsory school age as one of her priorities for this year, and so did the Indiana State Teachers’ Association.

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      Baptism By Fire For St. Joe’s ‘Phoenix Team’ One Year After School’s Closure Vote

        Just a year ago, students were shuffling to and from class under the towering chapel on the St. Joseph’s campus. It’s since fallen silent.

        The grounds are still manicured to look as if class is to be let out any second – save the concrete barriers blocking the entrance that read ‘private property – no trespassing.’

        Across the road in Drexel Hall, only 17 employees remain. They’ve been dubbed ‘the Phoenix Team’ – working to get St. Joe’s to rise from the ashes of financial ruin.

        This week marks one year since St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer announced it would be suspending operations. School officials say the college – as it was – is dead. And it’s still uncertain if – or how – the college might reopen.

        Read more at: wbaa.org

        ¿QPM? 9: Arte, cultura and the conservative Midwest

          A look at how Latino art and culture has influenced the Midwest and how it’s celebrated where it’s people may not feel welcomed.

          ¿Qué Pasa, Midwest? is a bilingual podcast from WNIN in Evansville that creates a sense of community for Midwestern Latinx who are missing an essential piece of their cultural identity.

          A look at how Latino art and culture has influenced the Midwest and how it’s celebrated where it’s people may not feel welcomed.

          Read more at: news.wnin.org

          Teacher Housing Tackles Turnover, Neighborhood Revitalization

            Near East Area Renewal, or NEAR, posts signs on the properties it eventually offers as affordable housing in St. Clair Place. (Steve Burns/WTIU)

            Near East Area Renewal, or NEAR, posts signs on the properties it eventually offers as affordable housing in St. Clair Place. (Steve Burns/WTIU)

            Indianapolis has a big turnover problem. Each year some 400 teachers in Indianapolis Public Schools – around 20 percent – either switch schools or quit.

            Elsie Owolo is with a group called TeachPlus. She says keeping teachers around is a complicated issue, but housing often plays a key role. And in the heart of Indianapolis, it’s a problem.

            “So in order for them to be able to afford something our teachers have expressed that they’ve number one had to stay with parents, had to stay with roommates, or you know the ultimate result is living out in the suburbs and having a longer commute,” Owolo says.

            And that can lead to turnover.

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            Five BSU Students Heading to Pyongchang To Cover The Olympic Winter Games

              This trip is one of the university’s immersive learning opportunities sponsored by the Department of Journalism. Five media students – two reporters, two videographers and one photographer – led by journalism instructor Ryan Sparrow, make up the student-led freelance agency known as “BSU at the Games.”

              Sparrow, who developed the BSU at the Games immersive experience, said he did so because he wanted students to be able to develop their skills through high-level experiential learning.

              “I thought it would be neat to bring that kind of sense of adventure and excitement of [traveling abroad] to journalism students,” he said. “When I was in England in 2010, I started hearing all about them preparing for the 2012 Olympics, and so, that’s how it started.”

              This week, millions of people will watch the 2018 Winter Olympics, which open this week in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Athletes and spectators from all over the world will flock into the 565-square-mile county; however, six of them will be from the Muncie corner of the world, specifically Ball State U

              Read more at: indianapublicradio.org

              High Schoolers To Compete In First Statewide Business Pitch Competition

                What business concept would you pitch if it could bring you a college scholarship, corporate internship, and $10,000 in cash?

                Candy Dodd is a project manager for the Innovate WithIN competition. She says even before the program’s registration deadline, the ideas coming in are interesting.

                “The two that I have seen – one is a reusable baggy. So, you know when you’re packing your lunch and you have a Ziploc baggy, the plastic ones? They’ve created these little pouches that are reusable, so it has Velcro on it. The other one is a car detailing on-the-go.”

                Ball State University is partnering with state workforce and education officials to help bring out an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit among Hoosier high schoolers. The result is a statewide business ideas competition with some lofty prizes. IPR’s Val Jones reports. What business conce

                Read more at: indianapublicradio.org

                Senate Approves Workforce Development Legislation

                  (Lauren Chapman/IPB News)

                  (Lauren Chapman/IPB News)

                  Tuesday was the last day for lawmakers in the Senate to pass bills through the chamber, and their agenda included legislation to amp up workforce development in schools.

                  Highlights of the workforce development bill include the creation of a new role, the Secretary of Workforce Training, appointed by the governor. The secretary would also head a new State Board for Technical Education, which will work in addition to the State Department of Education, and existing Board of Education.

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                  Single Diploma Measure Moves Through House

                    Rep. Bob Behning speaks to the chamber at the state house. (Jeanie Lindsay/IPB News)

                    Rep. Bob Behning speaks to the chamber at the state house. (Jeanie Lindsay/IPB News)

                    Monday marked the last day for Indiana lawmakers to move legislation out of the House of Representatives, and a handful of education measures received approval.

                    One of those bills, House Bill 1426, would address a change in federal graduation rate calculations. It would create a single high school diploma structure to meet those federal rules, and is a welcome solution to a problem many state and school officials have shared concern over in recent months.

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